Information processing device, printing condition setting method, and computer product

ABSTRACT

The CPU of a personal computer displays a list of one-click icons, each representing one or a plurality of printing functions, in the icon display area, and selects one one-click icon from the list of the one-click icons displayed in the icon display area, to automatically set a plurality of printing functions corresponding to the selected one-click icons.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of and claims the benefit of priorunder 35 U.S.C. § 120 from U.S. Ser. No. 14/967,889 filed Dec. 14, 2015,which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 14/520,780 filed October 22,2014 (now U.S. Pat. No. 9,253,345), which is a continuation of U.S. Ser.No. 14/170,098 filed Jan. 31, 2014, (now U.S. Pat. No. 8,891,099), whichis a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 13/887,100 filed May 3, 2013 (nowU.S. Pat. No. 8,681,348), which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No.13/660,770 filed Oct. 25, 2012 (now U.S. Pat. No. 8,456,660), which is acontinuation of U.S. Ser. No. 12/753,529 filed Apr. 2, 2010 (now U.S.Pat. No. 8,319,982), which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 11/496,583filed Aug. 1, 2006 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,719,701), which is acontinuation of U.S. Ser. No. 09/988,140 filed Nov. 19, 2001, and claimsthe benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 from Japanese PatentApplication No. 2000-376718 filed Dec. 11, 2000, the entire contents ofeach of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an information processing device, aprinting condition setting method, and a computer program for executingthe method. More specifically, this invention relates to an informationprocessing device and a printing condition setting method, capable ofpreparing icons for symbolizing a plurality of printing conditions, andselecting the prepared icon to set a plurality of printing conditions,and a computer program for executing the method.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Recently, with an increase and upgrade of printer functions, printersetting is becoming complicated and difficult for users. Specifically,it becomes complicated and difficult for users to set printingconditions on a printer driver screen. This printer driver is a softwareprogram designed such that with respect to a specific program, otherprograms can be operated without worrying about the hardware andinternal “language” of the printer, and designed for controlling theprinter and for performing processing of output data or the like. When adifferent printer is used, the codes and commands necessary forcorrectly operating the printer and for using respective specialfunctions and abilities are also different. The application programs canprecisely correspond to various printers, by using a printer driverwhich handles all the delicately different functions of respectiveprinters on behalf of the application programs. In the Windows 95/98 orMac OS, the printer driver is controlled by the OS.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an informationprocessing device and a printing condition setting method, capable ofeasily setting printing functions of a printer, when the printing datais printed by a printer, and a computer program for executing themethod.

In the information processing device according to one aspect of thisinvention, printing functions can be on a display screen displayed in adisplay unit when printing data is printed using a printer. Thisinformation processing device comprises: a symbol display control unitwhich displays a list of symbols, each representing a plurality ofprinting functions, in a symbol display area on the display screen; asymbol selection unit which selects one symbol from the list of symbolsdisplayed in the symbol display area; and a printing function settingunit which sets a plurality of printing functions represented by thesymbol selected by the symbol selection unit.

The printing condition setting method according to another aspect ofthis invention is a method of setting printing functions on a displayscreen displayed in a display unit when printing data is printed using aprinter. This method comprises: a first display step of displaying alist of symbols, each representing a plurality of printing functions, ina symbol display area on the display screen; a selection step ofselecting one symbol from the list of symbols displayed in the symboldisplay area; and a printing function setting step of setting aplurality of printing functions represented by the symbol selected bythe symbol selection unit.

The computer program according to still another aspect of thisinvention, which when executed on a computer realizes the methodaccording to the present invention.

Other objects and features of this invention will become apparent fromthe following description with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic construction of a printer systemaccording to one embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the construction of a personalcomputer shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the construction of a printer shown inFIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a diagram (1) for explaining the correspondence of printingconditions, the image data file indicating the printing conditions, andthe image data;

FIG. 5 is a diagram (2) for explaining the correspondence of printingconditions, the image data file indicating the printing conditions, andthe image data;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the summary of a registrationprocedure of a one-click icon of a printer driver;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a printing function setting screen (1) ofthe printer driver;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a printing function setting screen (2) ofthe printer driver;

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an editing condition setting screen of theone-click icon;

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a basic condition setting screen of theone-click icon;

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a finishing condition setting screen of theone-click icon;

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a one-click icon registration screen;

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a one-click icon control screen;

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a display example of a display screen forspecifically explaining the registration procedure of the one-clickicon;

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a display example of a display screen forspecifically explaining the registration procedure of the one-clickicon;

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a display example of a display screen forspecifically explaining the registration procedure of the one-clickicon;

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a display example of a display screen forspecifically explaining the registration procedure of the one-clickicon;

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a display example of a display screen forspecifically explaining the registration procedure of the one-clickicon;

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a display example of a display screen forspecifically explaining the registration procedure of the one-clickicon;

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a display example of a display screen forspecifically explaining the registration procedure of the one-clickicon;

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a display example of a display screen forspecifically explaining the registration procedure of the one-clickicon; and

FIG. 22 is a flowchart for explaining the procedure in the case ofprinting document data, using the one-click icon of the printer driver.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An embodiment of the information processing device and the printingcondition setting method according to the present invention will now bedescribed in detail, with reference to the drawings. In thisspecification, “printing condition” and “printing function” are used asan equivalent word. Also, the term “symbol” is used as a term having awide concept including images such as icon or the like.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic construction of a print systemaccording to this embodiment. The print system shown in FIG. 1 isconstructed such that a personal computer 1 for transmitting a printingjob including the printing data and printing conditions for printing theprinting data, and a printer 2 for printing the printing data areconnected via a cable 3.

The personal computer 1 transmits the printing data corresponding to aprepared document and the printing condition data set for printing thisdocument (paper direction, reversing, aggregation, binding, stapling,punching and scaling), as the printing job, to the printer 2.

The printer 2 performs printing of the printing data, in accordance withthe printing job transmitted from the personal computer 2. Specifically,the printer 4 prints the printing data included in the printing job on amedia such as paper, in accordance with the printing condition data(paper direction, reversing, aggregation, binding, stapling, punchingand scaling) included in the printing job.

Specific construction of the personal computer 1 and the printer 2 willbe described below sequentially.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the schematic construction of thepersonal computer 1 shown in FIG. 1. In FIG. 2, the personal computer 1comprises an input section 11 for inputting data, a display unit 12, acommunication section 13 for performing data communication, a CPU 14 incharge of the whole control of the apparatus, a RAM 15 used as a workarea of the CPU 14, a recording medium access apparatus 16 forperforming read and write from/to a recording medium 17, and therecording medium 17 storing various programs for operating the CPU 14.

The input section 11 comprises a keyboard comprising cursor movementkey(s), number input key(s) and various function keys, and a mouse and aslice pad for selecting keys on the display screen of the display unit12, which is a user interface for an operator to give operationinstructions to the CPU 14 and to input data.

The display unit 12 comprises a CRT, a LCD or the like, for performingdisplay corresponding to the display data input from the CPU 12. Thecommunication section 13 is for performing data communication with theexternal equipment, and for example, for performing data communicationwith the printer or like via the cable 3.

The CPU 14 is a central control unit which controls the whole apparatusaccording to a program stored in the recording medium 17. To this CPU 14are connected the input section 11, the display unit 12, thecommunication section 13, the RAM 15 and the recording medium accessapparatus 16, for controlling the data communication, readout of theapplication program by the access to the memory, read and write ofvarious data, data/command input, display or the like. The CPU 14 alsotransmits the printing data input from the input section 11 and theprinting condition data of the printing data as the printing job to theprinter 2, via the communication section 13.

The RAM 15 comprises a work memory for storing the specified program,input instructions, input data and processing results, and a displaymemory for temporarily storing the display data to be displayed on thedisplay screen in the display unit 12.

The recording medium 17 stores an OS program 17 a executable by the CPU14 (for example, WINDOWS 95, WINDOWS 98, etc.), a documentationapplication program 17 b, and various programs and data such as aprinter driver 17 c corresponding to the printer 1. The recording medium17 is an optical, magnetic or electric recording medium, for example, afloppy disk, a hard disk, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, a MO, a PC card or thelike. The various programs are stored in the recording medium 17 in thedata format readable by the CPU 14. Moreover, in some cases, the variousprograms are recorded beforehand in a recording medium, or aredownloaded via a communication line and stored in a recording medium.The various programs can be distributed via the communication line.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the schematic construction of theprinter 2 shown in FIG. 1. In FIG. 3, the printer 2 comprises acommunication section 21 for performing data communication, a CPU 22 incharge of the whole control of the printer 2, a ROM 23 for storingvarious control programs for operating the CPU 22, a RAM 24 being a workarea of various control programs, and temporarily storing printing dataof the printing job input from the personal computer I or the like andthe printing condition data, a printer engine 25 for printing theprinting data on a transfer paper, a stapling section 26 for staplingthe paper on which the printing data is printed, and a punching section27 for punching the transfer paper on which the printing data is primed.The printer 2 also has a reversing function, a punching function and astapling function.

The communication section 21 is for performing data communication withthe external equipment, and for example, for performing datacommunication with the personal computer 2 or the like.

The CPU 22 is a central control unit which controls the whole apparatusaccording to various control programs stored in the ROM 23. To this CPU22 are connected the communication section 21, the ROM 23, the RAM 24,the printer engine 25, the stapling section 26 and the punching section27, for controlling the data communication, printer operation and thelike.

The ROM 23 stores various control programs for operating the CPU 21 andparameters used for the processing. The RAM 24 comprises a work memoryfor storing the specified control program, the processing result and thereceived printing data.

The printer engine 25 comprises an electrophotographic printer engine,and is a unit, which prints the printing data on the transfer paper.

The printer driver 17 c of the personal computer 1 will now bedescribed. The CPU 14 performs, in accordance with the printer driver 17c, setting of the printing conditions described later, registration of aone-click icon, transfer of the printing data. prepared by thedocumentation application 17 b to the printer 2.

The printer driver 17 c has the image data indicating the respectiveprinting conditions in a bitmap file format. The printer driver 17 cstores the printing conditions associated with the image data fileindicating the printing conditions. FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 are diagramsshowing the correspondence of the printing conditions, the image datafile indicating the printing conditions and the image data. In theprinter driver 17 c, as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, there are registeredimage data for each printing condition, such as (1) document base, (2)aggregated partition line, (3) aggregated printing order arrows, (4)stamps, (5) staple and punch, and (6) reversing.

The printer driver 17 c overlaps the image data in the order of from (1)a document base, (2) an aggregated partition line, (3) an aggregatedprinting order arrow, (4) a stamp, (5) staple and punch, (6) reversingand (7) variable power, to thereby prepare an icon, and displays thisicon on the display screen.

(1) Summary of the Registration Procedure of the One-Click Icon

The summary of the registration procedure of the one-click icon by theprinter driver will now be described, with reference to the flowchart inFIG. 6. FIG. 6 shows a flowchart for explaining the summary of theregistration procedure of the one-click icon in the printer driver 17 c.

in FIG. 6, on the printing function setting screen of the printer driverdisplayed in the display unit, a standard icon is selected (step S1).Then, on the one-click icon setting screen (standard printing conditionsetting screen, editing condition setting screen, finishing conditionsetting screen), a printing condition is selected (step S2), to preparea one-click icon representing the printing result corresponding to theselected printing condition, based on the standard icon (step S3). Oneor more screens of the standard condition setting screen, the editingcondition setting screen and the finishing condition setting screen areselected, to prepare a one-click icon representing the selection of theprinting condition (paper direction, reversing, aggregation, binding,stapling, punching and scaling.) and the printing result of the selectedplurality of printing conditions.

Then, the set name of the prepared one-click icon and a comment areinput (step S4), and the set name, the comment and the preparedone-click icon are registered on a recording medium, associated with theselected printing conditions (step S5). This registered one-click iconis displayed on the printer driver screen afterwards, and when thedisplayed one-click icon is selected, the printing conditions areautomatically set.

(2) Display Screen of the Printer Driver

Next, the display screen of the printer driver will be described, withreference to FIG. 7 to FIG. 13. FIGS. 7 and 8 show the printing functionsetting screen of the printer driver, FIG. 9 shows the editing conditionsetting screen of the one-click icon, FIG. 10 shows the standardcondition setting screen of the one-click icon, FIG. 11 shows thefinishing condition setting screen of the one-click icon, FIG. 12 showsthe one-click icon registering screen, and FIG. 13 shows the one-clickicon control screen.

The printing function setting screen of the printer driver 17 c shown inFIG. 7 is a display screen of the documentation application and astart-up screen of the OS, and is a screen displayed when start-up ofthe printer driver 17 c is selected.

In the printing function setting screen shown in this figure, referencenumeral al denotes an icon display area where the registered one-clickicons are displayed in a list. The icons displayed in the icon displayarea a1 are overlapped with the image data (see FIG. 4 and FIG. 5)stored in the recording medium 17 and displayed. In the icon displayarea al, there are displayed an icon I1 of lengthwise document, an iconI2 of lengthwise document, aggregation ½ (printing order: from left toright) and having a partition line, an icon I3 of a stamp (COPY) withdocument lengthwise, an icon I4 of lengthwise document and double faceprinting, and an icon I5 of lengthwise document, aggregation ½ (printingorder: from left to right), having a partition line and double faceprinting. In this icon display area a1, a standard icon when preparingthe one-click icon is selected.

How, for example, the icon I2 is prepared will be described. The icon I2indicates such printing contents that the document is lengthwise,aggregation is ½ (two documents are printed in one sheet of paper), andthe document is printed from left to right with a partition line. Thisicon I2 is prepared by overlapping (1) the document base (the image dataof 12MP.bmp in FIG. 4), (2) an aggregated partition line (the image dataof ILin2P.bmp in FIGS. 4), and (3) aggregated printing order arrow (theimage data of IArr2AP.hmp in FIG. 4) in order.

Reference numeral a2 indicates the document orientation selection areafor selecting the orientation of the document. In the documentorientation selection area a2, “lengthwise” or “sidewise” of thedocument is selected. In accordance with this selection of “lengthwise”or “sidewise” of the document, the document is changed over to belengthwise or sidewise. The display example of the icon display area a1in FIG. 7 shows a case where “lengthwise” is selected in the documentorientation selection area a2. When “sidewise” is selected in thedocument orientation selection area a2, the display example of the icondisplay area a1 is changed over to the icon in the sidewise direction,as shown in FIG. 8. In the icon display area a1, there are displayed anicon I6 of sidewise document, an icon I7 of sidewise document,aggregation ½ (printing order: from left to right) and having apartition line, an icon I8 of a stamp (COPY) with document sidewise, anicon I9 of sidewise document and double face printing, and an icon I10of sidewise document, aggregation ½ (printing order: from left toright), having a partition line and double face printing.

Also in FIG. 7, reference numeral a3 denotes the number ofsets-selection area for selecting the number of sets, a4 denotes thedocument size selection area for selecting the document size, and a5denotes the printing paper size selection area for selecting theprinting paper size.

Reference numeral b1 denotes an icon control key for selecting thedisplay of the icon control screen, b2 denotes a one-click settingcreation/change key for displaying the screen for registering theone-click icon, and b3 denotes a OK key for selecting the executioninstruction of printing.

In this printing function setting screen in FIG. 7, after the standardicon has been selected from the icons displayed in the icon display areaa1, when the one-click setting creation/change key b2 is selected, theediting condition setting screen of the one-click icon is displayed.

Next, the editing condition setting screen of the one-click icon will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 9. In the editing condition settingscreen shown in this figure, b11 denotes a basic key for selecting thedisplay of the basic condition selecting screen (see FIG. 10), b12denotes an edit key for selecting the display of the editing conditionselecting screen (see FIGS. 9), and b13 denotes a finishing key forselecting the display of the finishing condition selecting screen (seeFIG. 11).

Reference numeral a10 denotes an icon set name display area where theset name of the icon selected in the icon display area a1 is displayed,a11 denotes a one-click icon display area for displaying the one-clickicon corresponding to the selected printing function, d10 denotes aradio button for selecting aggregated or enlarged rapid shooting, a12denotes an aggregated or enlarged rapid shooting type selection area forselecting the type of aggregated or enlarged rapid shooting, a13 denotesan aggregated or enlarged rapid shooting parts icon display area fordisplaying a list of icons (parts) corresponding to the type selected inthe aggregated or enlarged rapid shooting type selection area a12.

Reference numeral d11 denotes a radio button for selecting reversing andbinding, a14 denotes a reversing/binding parts icon display area fordisplaying the icon (parts) of the printing conditions of reversing andbinding. Reference numeral d14 denotes a radio button for selecting apartition line, d13 denotes a radio button for selecting a bindingmargin, d12 denotes a radio button for selecting a stamp, and a15denotes a stamp type selection area for selecting the type of stamps. Inthe stamp display type selection area a15, items such as “draft”,“confidential” or “externally confidential” can be selected. Referencenumeral b18 denotes a store with a name key for selecting the display ofthe registration screen for registering the one-click icon.

In the one-click icon display area a11, the printing function (icon)selected in the aggregated or enlarged rapid shooting type selectionarea a13, the printing function (icon) selected in the reversing/bindingparts icon display area a14, and the one-click icon corresponding to thestamp selected in the stamp type selection area a15 are combined anddisplayed.

The basic condition setting screen of the one-click icon will now bedescribed with reference to FIG. 10. In the basic condition settingscreen shown in this figure, reference numeral b11 denotes a basic keyfor selecting the display of the basic condition selecting screen (seeFIG. 10), b12 denotes an edit key for selecting the display of theediting condition selecting screen (see FIGS. 9), and b13 denotes afinishing key for selecting the display of the finishing conditionselecting screen FIG. 11).

Reference numeral a10 denotes an icon set name display area where theset name of the icon selected in the icon display area a1 is displayed,a11 denotes a one-click icon display area for displaying the one-clickicon corresponding to the selected printing function, b14 designates aradio button for selecting variable power, a15 denotes a variable powerdesignation area for selecting the type of variable power (paperdesignated variable power, zoom, independent variable power), a22denotes a magnification selection area for selecting the magnification.Reference numeral b18 denotes a store with a name key for selecting thedisplay of the registration screen for registering the one-click icon.

In the one-click icon display area a11, the one-click iconscorresponding to the printing functions selected in the variable powerdesignation area a15 are combined and displayed.

FIG. 11 shows a display example of the finishing condition settingscreen for setting the finishing printing condition of the one-clickicon. In the finishing condition setting screen shown in this figure,reference numeral b11 denotes a basic key for selecting the display ofthe basic condition selecting screen (see FIG. 10), b12 denotes an editkey for selecting the display of the editing condition selecting screen,and b13 denotes a finishing key for selecting the display of thefinishing condition selecting screen (see FIG. 11).

Reference numeral a10 denotes an icon set name display area where theset name of the icon selected in the icon display area a1 is displayed,a11 denotes a one-click icon display area for displaying the one-clickicon corresponding to the selected printing function, d31 denotes aradio button for selecting a staple, a31 denotes a staple (parts) icondisplay area for displaying a list of icons (parts) indicating variousstapling functions, d32 denotes a radio button for selecting punch, anda32 denotes a punch (parts) icon display area for displaying an icon(parts) indicating various punching functions, Reference numeral b18denotes a store with a name key for selecting the display of theregistration screen for registering the one-click icon.

In the one-click icon display area a11, one-click icons corresponding tothe printing function selected in the staple display area a21 and theprinting function selected in the punch display area a4 are combined anddisplayed.

FIG. 12 shows a display example of the displayed one-click registrationscreen, in the case where the store with a name key is selected, in thescreens shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 11. In the one-click registrationscreen in this figure, reference numeral a41 denotes a one-click setname input area for inputting the set name of the one-click icon, a42denotes a comment input area of one-click setting for inputting acomment related to the one-click icon, and b41 denotes an OK key forregistering the one-click icon.

In the one-click set name input area a41, a one-click set name is input,and a comment related to the one-click icon is input in the commentinput area of one-click setting. Thereafter, when the OK key isselected, the set name, the comment and the prepared one-click icon areregistered in the recording medium 17 associated with the selectedprinting condition.

FIG. 13 shows one example of the icon control screen displayed, in thecase where the icon control key b1 is selected in the printing functionselecting screen in FIG. 7. In the printing function selecting screen,reference numeral a41 denotes an icon display area where the registeredone-click icons are displayed in a list, b41 denotes a move forward keyfor moving the icon selected in the icon display area a41 forward, b42denotes a move backward key for moving the icon selected in the icondisplay area a41 backward, and b43 denotes a delete one-click settingkey for deleting the icon selected in the icon display area a41.

When the icon is selected in the icon display area a41, and the moveforward key b41 is pushed once, the selected icon is replaced with theone displayed on the left side in the order of display, and moved oneahead. When the move backward key b42 is pushed once, the selected iconis replaced with the one displayed on the right side in the order ofdisplay, and moved one behind. Moreover, when the icon is selected inthe icon display area a41, and the delete one-click setting key b43 isselected, the one-click setting of the selected icon is deleted.

(3) Specific Example of Registration Procedure of One-Click Icon

Next, a specific example of registration procedure of the one-click iconwill be described, with reference to FIG. 14 to FIG. 21. FIG. 14 to FIG.21 are diagrams showing a display example of the printer driver screenfor explaining a specific example of registration procedure of theone-click icon. As one example, a specific procedure for preparing aone-click icon representing function of aggregation ½ (with a partitionline) and upper left staples will he described with reference to FIG. 14to FIG. 17.

At first, the “icon I1 (set name:normal)” is selected as a standard iconfrom icons displayed in the icon display area a1 on the printingfunction setting screen shown in FIG. 7, and the orientation“lengthwise” is selected in the document orientation selection area a2.Then, when the one-click setting creation/change key b2 is selected, theediting condition setting screen shown in FIG. 9 is displayed.

In the editing condition setting screen shown in FIG. 9, the set name“normal” selected in the icon display area a1 on the printing functionsetting screen shown in FIG. 7 is displayed in the one-click icon setname display area a2. In the one-click icon display area a11, the “iconI1 (set name: normal)” selected in the icon display area a1 in FIG. 7 isdisplayed.

As shown in FIG. 14, when the radio button d1 for selecting aggregatedor enlarged rapid shooting is selected, and “aggregate two pages intoone page” is selected in the aggregated or enlarged rapid shooting typeselection area a12, then in the aggregated or enlarged rapid shootingparts icon display area a13, icons I11 and I12 indicating the printingresult for aggregating two pages into one page are displayed. The iconI11 denotes the printing result for aggregating two pages into one pagefrom left to right, and the icon I12 denotes the printing result foraggregating two pages into one page from right to left. In theaggregated or enlarged rapid shooting parts icon display area a13, whenthe icon I11 is selected, the icon I100 indicating the printing resultfor aggregating two pages into one page from left to right is displayedin the one-click icon display area a3. This is obtained by overwritingimage data of an arrow on the image data of the document base.

Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 15, when the radio button d14 forselecting a partition line is selected, an icon I101 in which apartition line is drawn in the icon I100 (see FIG. 14) is displayed inthe one-click icon display area a3. This is obtained by overwritingimage data of a partition line on the icon I101 (see FIG. 14).

Then, the edit key b12 is selected on the screen of FIG. 15, to displaythe editing condition setting screen. As shown in FIG. 16, when theradio button d31 for selecting a staple is selected on the editingcondition setting screen, five icons, i.e., an icon I21 indicating theprinting result of the upper left staple, an icon I22 indicating theprinting result of the upper right staple, an icon I23 indicating theprinting result of the left oblique staple, and an icon I24 indicatingthe printing result of the left two staples are displayed in the staple(parts) icon display area a31.

In this staple (parts) icon display area a31, when the upper left stapleicon I21 is selected, an icon I102 where the upper left staple image isdrawn on the icon I101 shown in FIG. 15 is displayed in the one-clickicon display area a31. The icon I102 is obtained by overwriting theupper left staple image on the icon I101 (see FIG. 15). As a result, aone-click icon indicating the printing result of aggregation ½ (printingfrom left to right), with a partition line and an upper left staple isprepared.

Then, in FIG. 16, when the store with a name key h18 is selected, theone-click icon registration screen shown in FIG. 12 is displayed, and“aggregation ½, staple: upper left” is input as the set name in theone-click set name input area a41, and a comment related to theone-click icon is input in the comment input area of one-click setting.Thereafter, when the OK key b41 is selected, the set name “aggregation½, staple: upper left”, the comment, the prepared one-click icon I102are registered associated with the selected printing functions(“aggregation ½ (printing from left to right), with a partition line andan upper left staple) in the printer driver 17 c (recording medium 17).

This registered one-click icon is displayed, as shown in FIG. 17, in theone-click icon display area a1 on the printing function setting screen.When this icon 1102 of the set name “aggregation ½, staple: upper left”is selected, the printing condition of aggregation ½ (printing from leftto right), with a partition line and an upper left staple areautomatically set.

A specific procedure for preparing the one-click icon representing thefunctions of “double face”, “stamp” and “punch” will now be describedwith reference to FIG. 18 to FIG. 21.

First, the “icon I1 (set name: normal)” is selected as the standard iconfrom icons displayed in the icon display area a1 on the printingfunction setting screen shown in FIG. 7, and the orientation“lengthwise” is selected in the document orientation selection area a2.Then, when the one-click setting creation/change key b2 is selected, theediting condition setting screen shown in FIG. 9 is displayed.

In the editing condition setting screen shown in FIG. 9, the set name“normal” selected in the icon display area a1 on the printing functionsetting screen shown in FIG. 7 is displayed in the one-click icon setname display area a2. In the one-click icon display area a11, the “iconI1 (set name: normal)” selected in the icon display area a1 in FIG. 7 isdisplayed.

As shown in FIG. 18, when the radio button d11 for selecting reversingand binding is selected, in the reversing/binding parts icon displayarea a14, icons I13 to I15 indicating the printing results of reversingand binding are displayed. When the icon I16 indicating the double faceprinting result is selected in the reversing/binding parts icon displayarea a14, an icon I200 indicating the double face printing result isdisplayed in the one-click icon display area a1. This icon is obtainedby overwriting the double face image on the document base image.

Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 19, when the radio button d3 forselecting a stamp is selected, stamps are displayed in the stamp typeselection area a15 for selecting the stamp type. In this stamp typeselection area a15, when a cursor key is operated to select“confidential”, an icon I201 in which the character “confidential” isdrawn on the icon I200 (see FIG. 18) is displayed in the one-click iconset name display area a2. This icon is obtained by overwriting thecharacter image of “confidential” on the icon I200 (see FIG. 18).

When the finishing key b13 on the screen shown in FIG. 19 is selected todisplay the finishing condition setting screen, and when the radiobutton d32 for selecting punch is selected as shown in FIG. 20, an iconI25 indicating the printing result of left side punching and an icon I26indicating the printing result of right side punching are displayed inthe punch (parts) icon display area a32. When the icon I25 indicatingthe printing result of left side punching is selected, an icon I202 inwhich the left side punching image is drawn on the icon I201 (see FIG.19) is displayed in the one-click icon display area a1. This icon isobtained by overwriting the left side punch image on the icon I201 (seeFIG. 19).

In FIG. 20, when the store with a name key b18 is selected, theone-click icon registration screen shown in FIG. 12 is displayed.“Double face, stamp, punch” is input as the one-click name in theone-click set name input area a41, and a comment related to the preparedone-click icon is input in the comment input area a42 of one-clicksetting, and thereafter, when the OK key b42 is selected, the set name“double face, stamp, punch”, the comment, the prepared one-click iconI202 are registered associated with the selected printing functions(reversing, stamping and left side punching) in the printer driver.

This registered one-click icon is displayed in the one-click icondisplay area al on the printing function setting screen, as shown inFIG. 21. When the icon I102 of this set name “double face, stamp, punch”is selected, the corresponding printing functions(reversing, stampingand left side punching) are automatically set.

(4) Printing Operation Using the One-Click Icon

Next, the procedure in the case of printing document data will now bedescribed with reference to the flowchart in FIG. 22, using theone-click icon of the printer driver 17 c. FIG. 22. shows a flowchartfor explaining the procedure when the document data is printed, usingthe one-click icon of the printer driver 17 c.

In FIG. 22, at first, a document is prepared with the document preparingapplication (step S10), and the printer driver 17 c is activated on thedisplay screen of the document preparing application 17 b, to therebydisplay the printing function setting screen (see FIG. 7) of the printerdriver (step S11). Subsequently, when a desired one-click icon isselected from the one-click icons displayed in the icon display area a1on the printing function setting screen (step S12), the printingcondition registered corresponding to the selected one-click icon isautomatically set. After other printing conditions (paper feed tray,paper type, paper ejecting destination, number of sets, etc.) are set(step S13), when the OK button b3 is selected, the printing conditiondata such as the printing condition registered corresponding to theone-click icon and other printing conditions, and the document data aretransferred from the personal computer 1 to the printer 2 (step S14).According thereto, the printer prints the document data in accordancewith the transferred printing condition data.

As described above, with the printer driver 17 c in this embodiment, alist of one-click icons, each representing one or a plurality ofprinting functions, is displayed in the icon display area a1, and oneone-click icon is selected from the list of the one-click iconsdisplayed in the icon display area a1, and a plurality of printingfunctions corresponding to the selected one-click icons areautomatically set. As a result, when the printing data is printed by theprinter, the printing function of the printer can be easily set.

Moreover, with the printer driver 17 c in this embodiment, a pluralityof printing functions are selected on the one-click icon setting screen(editing condition setting screen, finishing condition setting screenand basic condition setting screen), and a one-click icon representingthe selected plurality of printing functions is prepared, and displayedin the one-click icon display area a11 on the display screen, so thatthe selected plurality of printing functions are registered associatedwith the one-click icon representing a plurality of printing functionsand the set name. As a result, users can prepare a one-click iconrepresenting a plurality of desired printing functions, andautomatically set a plurality of printing functions by selecting theprepared one-click icon, and hence user-friendliness can be provided.

As described above, according to the information processing device andthe information processing method of this invention, when the printingdata is printed by a printer, it becomes possible to set the printingfunction of the printer very easily.

Moreover, a user can prepare a symbol representing a plurality ofdesired printing functions, and can set a plurality of printingfunctions by selecting the prepared symbol, thereby user-friendlinesscan be provided.

Furthermore, a user can confirm the preparation process of a symbolrepresenting a plurality of printing functions.

Moreover, a user can easily select the printing functions.

Furthermore, it becomes possible to prepare a symbol representing aplurality of printing functions with an easy method.

Moreover, as the printing function, the paper direction, the reversingfunction, the aggregation function, the binding function, the staplingfunction, the punching function and the scaling function can beselected.

Furthermore, the symbols can be rearranged corresponding to the usefrequency of the user, and hence user-friendliness can be provided.

The computer program according to this invention, which when executed ona computer realizes the method according to the present invention. Thus,the computer program can be easily distributed among the users bydistributing the computer readable recording medium. Moreover, themethod according to the present invention can be easily andautomatically realized using the computer.

The present document incorporates by reference the entire contents ofJapanese priority document, 2000-376718 filed in Japan on Dec. 11, 2000.

Although the invention has been described with respect to a specificembodiment for a complete and clear disclosure, the appended claims arenot to be thus limited but are to be construed as embodying allmodifications and alternative constructions that may occur to oneskilled in the art which fairly fall within the basic teaching hereinset forth.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of operating a printing system,comprising; displaying, on a display as a user interface, a settingscreen that includes a first display area and a second display area, thefirst display area being for displaying an image of a documentindicating a print result, and the second display area being for settinga first plurality of print conditions; in response to a first useroperation of the setting screen, performing both setting at least onefirst print condition of the first plurality of print conditions andupdating the image of the document displayed in the first display areafor representing the at least one first print condition; receiving auser selection via the setting screen, and displaying, on the settingscreen, a third display area for setting a second plurality of printconditions, the third display area being displayed by switching thesecond display area to the third display area in response to the userselection; in response to a second user operation of the setting screen,performing both setting at least one second print condition of thesecond plurality of print conditions and updating the image of thedocument displayed in the first display area for representing the atleast one first print condition and the at least one second printcondition; storing print condition data including the at least one firstprint condition and the at least one second print condition in responseto a received storing instruction; and outputting, in response to areceived printing instruction, print conditions based on the storedprint condition data to a printer to print a document data.
 2. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein the at least one first printcondition and the at least one second print condition differ from eachother.
 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the user selectionincludes selecting a tab from tabs displayed on the setting screen. 4.The method according to claim 1, wherein the first display area is keptdisplayed on the setting screen after the second display area isswitched to the third display area on the setting screen.
 5. A printingsystem, comprising: a memory device; and processing circuitry coupledwith the memory device and configured to: display, on a display as auser interface, a setting screen that includes a first display area anda second display area, the first display area being for displaying animage of a document indicating a print result, and the second displayarea being for setting a first plurality of print conditions; inresponse to a first user operation of the setting screen, perform bothsetting at least one first print condition of the first plurality ofprint conditions and updating the image of the document displayed in thefirst display area for representing the at least one first printcondition; receive a user selection via the setting screen, and display,on the setting screen, a third display area for setting a secondplurality of print conditions, the third display area being displayed byswitching the second display area to the third display area in responseto the user selection; in response to a second user operation of thesetting screen, perform both setting at least one second print conditionof the second plurality of print conditions and updating the image ofthe document displayed in the first display area for representing the atleast one first print condition and the at least one second printcondition; store in the memory device print condition data including theat least one first print condition and the at least one second printcondition in response to a received storing instruction; and output, inresponse to a received printing instruction, print conditions based onthe stored print condition data to a printer to print a document data.